Members of the Busy Bee Buddies 4-H club accept a donation from a shopper to benefit the American Red Cross. (Hawaii 24/7 photo courtesy of Margaret Masunaga)

Hawaii 24/7 reporting by Margaret Masunaga

The Busy Bee Buddies 4-H Club, Lions Club of Kona and County of Hawaii staff thank the Kona community for donating $11,000 to the American Red Cross.

Volunteers manned Red Cross Hats Off stations Saturday, April 2 outside Walmart, KTA and shops at Lanihau and Keauhou shopping centers.

Shoppers filled the coffers with $4,500 at Walmart, $2,300 at Lanihau, $2,200 at Kailua KTA and $1,800 at Keauhou Shopping Center.

Walmart had a dunking booth with Civil Defense Director Quince Mento, Mayor’s Executive Assistant Bobby Command, Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira, Prosecutor Jay Kimura and Walmart manager John Yates.

Fire Department and Police Department personnel also were on hand to check blood pressure and issue Keiki IDs.

Busy Bee Buddies 4-H club members and volunteers, including American Red Cross board member Carol Kitaoka, Kim Kunitomo, Pattie Kunitomo, Prosecutor Jay Kimura, Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira, Walmart Manager John Yates, Deputy Planning Director Margaret Masunaga. (Hawaii 24/7 photo courtesy of Margaret Masunaga)